미, 전문직 비자 수수료 1.4억 재추진…망명 신청자 20만명 비자 곧 취소

Donald Trump's administration has made provisions to increase the fees for professional employment visas (H-1B) to over $1.4 million, while also planning to cancel the visas of around 200,000 immigrants. This move is aimed at consolidating support for the party ahead of the mid-term elections. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced on the 25th local time the new rule that requires a $103,265 fee for new professional employment visa applications.

The H-1B visa is granted to foreign professionals working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields for U.S. companies. The fee is typically paid by the U.S. employer. The rule will undergo a 30-day comment period before being finalized at the end of the year. The previous fee ranged between $2,000 and $5,000.

According to Reuters, the fee does not apply to student visas for foreigners living in the U.S. who apply for or renew H-1B visas. However, there are reports that the Trump administration is also considering imposing a $10 million fee on foreign graduates studying in U.S. universities who wish to work in U.S. companies. This could further reduce the number of foreign students entering the U.S. for higher education.

Last month, a federal court in Massachusetts ruled that the $10 million fee imposed by the Trump administration is effectively a tax and exceeds the president's authority. If this rule is finalized, it could lead to additional legal challenges. The administration argues that the higher threshold for skilled foreign workers is necessary to prevent U.S. workers from being replaced.

Ahead of the mid-term elections, analysts suggest that the administration is reinforcing its tough immigration stance to rally support. The H-1B visa regulation is a contentious issue among Trump supporters, with traditional MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters backing it, while technology companies oppose it. Charles Kirk, a former U.S. immigration lawyer, warned that the government's move could benefit China, India, and Europe by losing out on top talent.

James Holmes, a Memphis-area immigration lawyer, criticized the measure as "cutting off the nose to spite the face," as it would block foreign students from entering the U.S. for education, which he called a "life-or-death issue" for the country's brain drain. Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies, argued that raising fees to improve the quality of workers is the right direction, but emphasized that the legality of the measure remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State has announced plans to cancel the visas of up to 200,000 foreigners applying for or preparing to apply for entry visas by the end of the year. According to AP News, the Department of Homeland Security is preparing to cancel these visas if foreigners entering the U.S. on B1 (business) or B2 (tourism or medical) visas are also applying for asylum or preparing to do so.

AP reported that the Department of Homeland Security is preparing for a dynamic situation, with the number of cancellations uncertain.